Actuakers One of my all time favorites.

Glucedee It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

Cooktopi The acting in this movie is really good.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Bill Slocum Can a reckless playboy be redeemed by true love? Will a mean capitalist father stop his son from marrying the daughter of a generous-hearted parson? How many cast members will be left after Reginald Barlow's Mr. Wallace goes on another firing bender?These are the questions in play in "His Private Secretary," a light comedy which fits in two stories within its one-hour running time. In the first half, we see Dick Wallace (John Wayne) put in a rare day of work only to discover himself smitten by that parson's daughter, Marion (Evalyn Knapp). In the second, Marion works to reconcile Dick and his father by taking a job as Daddy Wallace's personal secretary.Daddy doesn't know who Marion really is, and she won't tell him. This sets up much of the second-half comedy that gives the film its title and much of its interest."Never marry a rich man's worthless son," Daddy tells her. "You'll regret it."On the surface a pleasant curio for fans of John Wayne interested in his pre-"Stagecoach" career, "His Private Secretary" is something of a curiosity upon closer inspection. Like "Stagecoach," he's billed second behind an actress. Unlike "Stagecoach," the actress actually deserves top billing. Knapp's a pleasure to watch, and makes the most of this program-filler.Knapp actually had recently co-starred in successful films with the likes of Cagney, Edward G. Robinson, and Joe E. Brown, so it makes sense this cheapo production would tout her services over those of Wayne, who in 1934 had been reduced to Poverty Row titles like this after the abject commercial failure of his early starring vehicle "The Big Trail." It's an adjustment watching Wayne settle into his gadabout role here, and he seems only adequate, smirking to himself as he checks out various ankles and dickers with Daddy. Knapp is what sells the film, with her cat eyes and contagious exuberance.One special scene doesn't involve Wayne at all. In it, we see Marion help a heretofore unpleasant office manager who has gotten the whack from Daddy Wallace. With a gentleness that's hard to imagine in movies today, she first manages to smooth over the boss, who has come to respect Marion in a way he does no one else, and then glides up to the office manager to tell him as obliquely as possible that he still has his job. The scene is so well acted and shot, office workers straining to listen in the background while the manager in stark close-up struggles to keep his composure, that your heart almost aches in gratitude, as silly as that may read. As good as the scene plays now, it must have been riveting in the midst of the Great Depression.But the rest of the film, while not chaff entirely, is not nearly as fine. Director Philip H. Whitman for the most part plays this in strict by-the-numbers style, with few cuts and a lot of plot jumps. Characters and subplots are quickly introduced and abandoned after getting a chuckle or two. The last five minutes is a clear rush to get the story resolved under the wire, and really wrecks a lot of the good will established.It's just not a good movie, but it's not really bad at all. A light tone predominates, along with a simple message of finding forgiveness and human decency that makes the experience of watching it hard to dislike. Certainly people who, like me, force themselves to watch every Wayne film they can will be somewhat impressed, if not on account of Wayne. I think I may try to watch another Knapp film before my next Wayne.

Dunham16 This is a 60 minute low budget grade B comedy in which John Wayne plays second fiddle to Evelyn Napp. The 1933 depression sets and costumes would be considered amateur film making today. The film has never been remastered and has been public domain for so long the current Youtube print is actually clearer than the double feature DVD reissue as which it was last commercially marketed. The story is delightful romantic fantasy in which the illogical sets and costumes & poor home, work to enhance the fun. Wayne is interested in a ministers daughter and is dismissed by his wealthy tycoon dad for refusing to follow up on an unpaid outstanding loan taken by her grandfather. He sets up shop as a garage mechanic to win her then marries her without telling her he is rich. The title scene is played out as the way Napp gets Wayne's dad to accept his son marrying a woman whose family is not on the approved list. Interesting story and acting, poor quality reproduction and budget filmed project.

mark.waltz It would be a long time after this before John Wayne exchanged his cowboy hat for a suit and tie, and a horse for a beautiful woman. This low-budgeted comedy is sometimes difficult to watch because of the poor quality, but for the most part, it is fairly entertaining. Wayne plays a wealthy playboy forced by his domineering father (Reginald Barlow) to go to work, and in the process, he meets, falls in love with, and marries the granddaughter of a poor preacher. Pops doesn't want to meet his new daughter-in-law and disowns Wayne, but the wife (pretty Evelyn Knapp) gets the upper hand by going to work for Barlow as his new secretary. Not realizing who she really is, Barlow comes to depend on her, and actually becomes almost a human being when she is around. But what will happen when he learns the truth? Wayne and Knapp are charming, but Barlow's character is melodramatically stereotypical and one dimensional that the plot seems forced.

wes-connors Often drunk, playboy John Wayne (as Richard "Dick" Wallace) upsets father Reginald Barlow, who is tired of Mr. Wayne, as he puts it, "making love like a Romeo, drinking like a fish." When Wayne sobers up a little, his father gives him a job as a collection agent. But Wayne's penchant for pretty girls makes it hard to collect from leggy blonde Evalyn Knapp (as Marion Hall). When Wayne gives her reverend father, Alec B. Francis, a loan extension, his father fires him. Wayne continues to pursue Ms. Knapp, who plays hard to get. The novelty of seeing young John Wayne out of the saddle wears off quickly - even Wayne fans may be bored.*** His Private Secretary (6/10/33) Philip H. Whitman ~ John Wayne, Evalyn Knapp, Reginald Barlow, Alec B. Francis